With rainfalls of up to 200mm overnight, flooding continues across the area. Rainfall averaging 80-100mm is expected, with the potential for very heavy, localised falls up to 250mm in the Tweed area.

There is a high potential for flash flooding in the area and the Bureau of Meteorology has a Severe Weather Warning in place.

There are also eight Flood Warnings, a Flood Watch and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in place. People in the affected areas are advised to check the Bureau of Meteorology’s website for updates on the warnings.

The NSW SES has deployed members to the areas of concern, including Flood Rescue Technicians and Incident management Teams. At present there are over 110 requests for assistance that have been received and multiple flood rescues have been undertaken.

The Northern Rivers will continue to be the focus for today, with the Tweed and Chinderah areas of particular concern. Holiday makers in the area are asked to listen to local radio stations for updates on the situation and be prepared to act.

With heavy rainfall, motorists are urged to drive to the conditions of the day, and to avoid any unnecessary travel. Road information can be obtained from the RTA through the Live Traffic website or by calling 131 700.

If you require flood or storm help, call the SES on 132 500.

Remember, never ride, drive or walk through floodwater and stay clear of rivers, creeks, stormwater drains and causeways as heavy localised falls may cause flash flooding.

Road closure information.

Presented by Queensland-based arts organisation Artisan, it is an exhibition showcasing 100 stories of great Australian women who have broken down the barriers in arts, sciences, humanities and sports, and 100 brooches made in response to these stories by 100 women jewellers from across Australia.
 
Maitland Regional Gallery will also tour to Grafton in May 2014 with In[Two]Art, an exhibition exploring artist couples who are recognised as practising artists and who create works as individuals.
 
Lismore Regional Gallery will host Survivor, an interactive art project by contemporary Indonesian-Australian artist Dadang Christano.

Toured to the region by national arts network Kultour, the exhibition will combine performance art, photography and video installation and will run from 21 July – 26 August 2012.
 
Ms Saffin welcomed the touring of exhibitions to both regional galleries.
 
“This is a terrific opportunity for the region to experience these significant art and cultural exhibitions and celebrate Australia’s great creative talent,” she said.
 
“I would encourage all to come and visit and support our wonderful local galleries that enrich our lives with the exhibitions that they provide to us.”
 
The Visions of Australia program is part of the Australian Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting exhibitions of Australian cultural material. Visual arts and craft exhibitions are supported through the Contemporary Touring Initiative, which is a joint program of the Australian, state and territory governments, under the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy.
 
For more information on the Visions of Australia program and the Contemporary Touring Initiative visit www.arts.gov.au/regional/visions-of-australia

Strike Force Hyperion comprises detectives from the Drug Squad’s Cannabis Team, with assistance from the NSW Police Air Wing, Police Dog Unit, Radio Electronics Unit and officers from Richmond Local Area Command.

During the past week, Strike Force Hyperion officers targeted more than 60 cannabis crop sites throughout Richmond Local Area Command, including Kippenduff, Rappville, Clearfield, Busby Flat, Mummulgum, Bulldog, Drake, Nimbin, Blue Knob, Kyogle and Tabulam.

A total of 3734 plants were located and seized by police during the operation.

The total estimated potential street value of the plants seized during the past five days is $7.5 million. All plants seized by police have been now been destroyed.

The Cannabis Eradication Program has been running since the mid 1980s, with the NSW Police Force preventing almost $240 million worth of cannabis reaching NSW streets.

As in previous years, the 2011-2012 operation will see police conduct a number of similar raids over the next few months in an ongoing effort to target cannabis cultivation.

Acting Commander of the State Crime Command’s Drug Squad, Detective Acting Superintendent Steve Patton, said the Cannabis Eradication Program aims to disrupt the cannabis supply chain in NSW by targeting the source.

“Illegal cannabis growers choose their growing locations based on the mistaken belief that police won’t find them,” Det Acting Supt Patton said.

“However, as we prove with this program every year, we have the resources to find these crops and put a dent in the cannabis market.”

The constable, who is a serving officer attached to Northern Region, was served with a future court attendance notice today (Thursday 5 January 2012), charged with assault with act of indecency and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The charges relate to the alleged indecent assault of a woman at her home in Goonellabah on Saturday 5 November 2011.

He is due to appear in Lismore Local Court on Thursday 16 February 2012.

The officer’s duty status is under review.

“The White Paper is a document for the last century, unable to see that the world is investing strongly in renewables and that we will be left behind,” said Tony Gleeson, Ballina Climate Action Network (BCAN) and the 100% Renewable community campaign spokesperson.”

“What Mr Ferguson has released is a gas plan for Australia. Gas is no solution to our long-term energy needs.

“In Australia, gas means coal seam gas. Coal seam gas is a danger to our precious farmland and is no better than coal in terms of emissions.

“Tying ourselves to gas also exposes Australian consumers to high international gas prices at the power point, just the way we are now at the petrol pump.

“A massive investment in renewable energy is essential for Australia.

“If Australia wants low-cost, zero-carbon energy, we need to invest strongly in renewables like solar and wind now to achieve the benefits of technologies that get cheaper the more you build.

“100% Renewable is calling for 2000MW of big solar plants to be built through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation by 2015.

“Big Solar is proven and commercially available in US and ready to build now in Australia, the sunniest continent on earth, but the White Paper is too stuck in the energy sources of the past to see this.

“It’s no surprise that this committee, stacked as it is with fossil fuel interests, would come up with such a narrow document. It’s time we had people deciding our energy future who aren’t there to protect their own interests in coal and gas.

“We call on Australians to tell Mr Ferguson that we expect much better than this.”

About 9.30am (Thursday 10 November 2011), police from Richmond Local Area Command executed a search warrant at a property on Rosebank Road, Corndale.

Police allegedly located an elaborate hydroponic set-up in a shed on the property.

Police allegedly seized 296 cannabis plants, almost 8kg of cannabis leaf, more than 400 grams of cannabis resin, three grams of methylamphetamine, a 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition and fireworks.

The estimated street value of the drugs seized is estimated to be in excess of $630,000.

Two men and a woman were arrested at the location and taken to Lismore Police Station.

A 56-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman were subsequently charged with large commercial cultivation of cannabis, drug supply and firearms offences.

They have been refused bail to appear at Lismore Local Court today (Friday 11 November 2011).

A 19-year-old man was subsequently charged with drug and prohibited weapons offences.

He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Lismore Local Court on Monday 12 December 2011.

About 10.20pm on Friday 28 October 2011, a 19-year-old man was walking along Uralba Street, Lismore, when he began to be followed by a group of five youths.

The man began to run from the group, however, they chased him, catching him at the intersection of Hunter Street.

The group allegedly threatened the man before assaulting him.

It is alleged the 13-year-old boy picked up a large rock and threw it at the man’s head, causing a large wound above his left eye.

The man ran towards Lismore Base Hospital and collapsed out the front.

He was assisted by a security guard at the hospital, who chased the group away.

The man was admitted to hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery to treat a compressed skull fracture.

About 8.50am yesterday (Wednesday 9 November 2011), police attended an address in Boronia Street, Casino, and arrested the 13-year-old boy.

It is alleged that the boy began to assault and resist police as they took him outside.

The 13-year-old boy was taken to Casino Police Station where he was charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault police officer in execution of duty, resist officer in execution of duty.

He appeared before Casino Children’s Court, where he was bail refused and will reappear in Lismore Children’s Court tomorrow (Friday 11 November 2011).

Police have identified another youth allegedly involved in the incident, and are still looking for three boys who may be able to assist with their investigation.

They are only described as being Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Mr Page said that residential parks provide an affordable housing choice for many people, who develop strong, valuable networks of support within their park.

“It is vital that effective laws are in place setting out clear and balanced rights and obligations for residents and park operators,” said Mr Page.

“The discussion paper honours our election commitment to residential park residents to carry out a full review of the Residential Parks Act 1998 and improve the governance of the residential parks industry”.

The paper looks at several ways to help strengthen and grow the residential parks sector, including options for licensing park operators, education for new operators and better ways to resolve disputes about rent increases.

“The NSW Government has listened to concerns at the grassroots level and will make sure the real issues affecting park residents and operators are addressed by this review,” Mr Page said.

The discussion paper is available online at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au or by calling 13 32 20. Comments can be lodged directly online, by returning the submission form at the back of the paper, or by sending a submission to NSW Fair Trading.

The deadline for providing comments on the discussion paper is Wednesday, 29 February 2012.

Originally composed [1716] for the girls in the orphanage where Vivaldi was priest, it remained relatively unknown until 1939.

Since this performance in Siena, it has become a firm favourite with choirs and audiences for its theatrical quality and rich contrasts of texture and expression.

Also on the program will be a selection of settings of Ave Maria, of which many have been written but only four will be performed.

And the celebration? It is 400 years since the death of Tamas Luigi de Victoria, possibly one of Spain’s best composers and a master of intricate choral writing, often with the pipe organ as soloist, from the late Renaissance. His music has great intensity and emotional appeal that belies its era.

TWILIGHT PERFORMANCE:

Wednesday, 30 November, 2011 @ 6.00pm, St Mary’s Anglican Church, Ballina.

EVENING PERFORMANCE:

Thursday, 1 December, 2011 @ 7.30pm, St Carthage’s Cathedral, Lismore.

Tickets at the door, adult $12, concession $10, enquiries 0429 185 361.

The 36-year-old man sustained the injuries on Saturday (5 November 2011) and he is currently in serious but stable condition in Lismore Base Hospital.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Lismore LAC or Crime Stoppers on 1 800 333 000.